About West Michigan Rubber & Supply

In this photo (left to right): Eric, Bernie, Steve, Ed, Jake, Vicki, Joe, Tammi, Tyson, Chris

West Michigan Rubber & Supply Company is a family-owned and operated business that has been around for over 55 years. G. Gordon Hornby, Sr., started the business in 1955 in downtown Muskegon as an industrial supplier of hose and rubber products. The company remained in that location for approximately five years before moving to the current location on Hackley Avenue, between Henry and Seaway. The business continued to grow with six employees as his son, G. Gordon Hornby, Jr., began working with him in the 1970s before taking over in 1982.

Product lines were expanded and the number of employees increased throughout the late 80s and into the early 1990s. Two of these employees, brothers Jake and Joe Veltman, and stepsons of Gordon Hornby, Jr., worked their way up in the company and eventually managed the day-to-day operations and sales under Gordy’s leadership. In 1991, increased sales created a need for more warehouse and office space and a fairly substantial addition to the original building was necessary. It was toward the end of the 1990s that Gordy retired and sold the business to Jake and Joe. Shortly thereafter, the second renovation occurred and more warehouse space was added to the existing building. In 2001, the sales counter was remodeled to include the ParkerStore, a large retail space with product displays and easy access to fittings and parts for customers. A larger hose assembly workshop was created at that time as well.

Today, West Michigan Rubber & Supply Company is a major supplier of industrial products along the Lakeshore with over 100 years combined employee experience.